April 2026 Community of Interest Highlights
The Humber Aging in Community Education & Research (ACER) Community of Interest is a growing platform that facilitates the exchange of emerging trends, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of research opportunities.
The session opened with a reflective exercise asking participants to imagine themselves at age 85, revealing that most of them envision independent or community-based living rather than long-term care. This highlighted a strong stigma around long-term care, often associated with decline, dependency, and loss of identity.
The speaker Dr Kim Bergeron emphasized that healthy ageing is not defined by independence alone but by connection, belonging, and purpose at every stage of life. A key message was to reframe long-term care as a place where life continues, rather than where it ends.
The following are some main highlights from the session:
A social-ecological framework was introduced, showing that healthy ageing is shaped by relational practices, environments, policies, and lived experiences.
Everyday interactions and relationships were highlighted as critical in shaping identity, inclusion, and overall well-being.
The importance of designing physical spaces and organizational systems to support connection and engagement, rather than just efficiency, was emphasized.
The case study of East Cumberland Lodge demonstrated how applying a “Healthy Ageing Lens” can transform long-term care into a more inclusive and community-oriented environment.
Initiatives such as the Legacy Story Project showed how capturing residents’ life stories can restore identity, dignity, and a sense of purpose.
The Connecting Generations Program illustrated the value of intergenerational engagement in reducing ageism and fostering mutual learning.
Opening long-term care spaces to the broader community helped reduce isolation and shift public perceptions of these environments.
Small, intentional design changes—such as creating home-like spaces—were shown to significantly improve social interaction and sense of belonging.
The presentation reinforced that healthy ageing does not happen by accident but requires intentional design of systems, relationships, and environments.
Key challenges discussed included funding limitations, staffing shortages, and the need for cultural and leadership shifts within long-term care systems.
Participants were encouraged to start small by creating opportunities for connection, contribution, and community engagement in their own settings.
The overall takeaway emphasized shifting the focus from simply providing care to enabling people to live with meaning, connection, and dignity throughout the ageing process.
Note:
The next Community of Interest (CI) gathering is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. We invite all individuals interested in participating in this important dialogue. Whether you are a researcher, practitioner, student, or are committed to improving the quality of life for older adults in our communities, your insights and experiences are highly valued. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults and the communities that support them.